St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1887-12-24

at the morOse end of unhappy extremity, but
never such lapidated-lOoking being as this
one, as he sat upon wretChed CoucH and
gazed wonderngly heavenward.
He was one of those unfortunate creaf' res
sibilities and the super-sensltive sympathies
which may only be expressed in verse.
One after another of his illusions had he
completed and sent abroad to the sanctum
Argus, only to have them returned to him-if
he enclosed stamps for that purpose-until one
might think that the return of MSS. had be-
come such an usual affair that he would
adjust himself to it somewhat.
But no-he thought as much of these chill
dren of his brain as the more successful ex-
amples of literary parentage. Indeed, more,
for our MAIN and cripple enlist the af-
fections to a greater degree than the hale and
hearty.
He had pawned all the available articles in
his possession, and would have parted with
his coat in the same manner. had there not
been several dIsheartening objections to such
a proceeding, foremost among which were
the liabilities to arrest for parading the
streets in his shirt->lceyeS. nj the certainty
Of exposing to the iceriny crowd the Sc
dentary portion Of his trousers which con-
tnua use had abraded into the shred and
ravel Of destruction.
As | said, he was gazing heavenward-
this proceeding was possible from the fact
that he dweIt directly beneath the skylight.
Very likely he had determined that if there
was no other way Of spicing his verses with
the attic flavor, he meant to see what virtue
there was in proximity to ratter and sky
light
Still he drew the small table toward him,
and gazed at a sheet of paper spread thereon
Let me see he said, what it was the
stranger gave me-
As he had left an unappreciative sanctum,
that morning. he accosted by vener-
able stranger who had been present during
that painful interview consequent upon re-
lection Of Mss.
Young man." he said. genius is not ap-
precated, | perceive. Now, if you will de-
scend from the clouds and undertake little
matter for me that has a mundane char
acter, | believe you will make more by
a few happy lines than you ever dreamed
possible. Take this paper home with you and
examine it closely. Write me few lines
in praise Of the subject you find therein, and
the result will be advantageous to yourself"
And it was this paper at which the poet
gazed. "Ah! well,' he said, what must
be, must be- and with this philosophical
reflection he began;
"Once fellow named Magnus McGitfy,
Nearly turned from his pain to a stitfy
Till the twinge and the rack
Were released from his back,
For St. Jacobs Oil cures in jitfy.
There he exclaimed, as he finished his
measure, that will answer for beginning !;
by the bye, the stranger gave me a bottle Of
the mixture. I'll place it upon the table
before me; it may serve as an inspiration"
After contemplating the label attentively
for a few moments, he ran his fingers
through his luxuriant hair, in the manner
OF versitiers, and as result of the friction
dashed off the following:
Once fellow who trod upon peels
Tired to walk in the air with his heels,
But the pain when he dropped
Some st. Jacobs Oil stopped,
So he don't have to stand for his meals.
"Now, if | mistake not he said, that
last etfuson has dashing air aboutit. Now,
let me see what | can do that has a clever,
classic cast-ah there! Clever classic cast is
good. Now for verse that will measure to
the ALTERATION.
"Cred the scholar, Hoe pain est nefandum
Till St. Jacobs Oil Bonus Jim Dandum-
Turned its malus rigorem
Into bonus vigorem,
So say Quod erat demonstrandum."
Bang. bang! "Somebody knocks at the
street door
1T is his cr,lsty nibs, the landlord, coming
for his rent, and I haven't a blessed penny
about me. Haste, 0 muse, before the cur
rent of my thought is turned aside by his
gross presence. Here we go:
''Once crank-sided chap, named OToole,
Got too near the butt end Of mule
Till St. Jacobs provided
Ease, where he collided;
So he wasn't completely fool.
"Ho! he has entered. hear his plebeian
feet ascending the stairs below with painful
distinctness. Pay or go'-I know his ex-
acting phrase All inspiration
"Once a larking, tacetiOus young cub
Made Shakspcarean pun at his club;
If you're after relief
For rheumatical grief,
St. Jacobs Oil--aye, there's the rub
HE has reached the second landing-I hear
his grumble He must be intoxicated, for he
seems not to know the way as well as usual
All. he fails Great heavens That SET
ties tout co. Then his muse was again
propitious:
"Cried an Irishman-Arrah, be aisy,
For me pains that wor drivin' me crazy
Are all gone, and be jabers
OH be tellin' me Majors
That St. Jacobs Oils surely daisy
Good! A few more and | won't care for
all the landlords in existence. He has
reached the next landing; | hear him
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